Ducks bring together fathers and sons

ST. LOUIS – There are conversations between a father and a son and then there are conversations.

Take the chats that Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf had with his father, Steve, when the subject of his son potentially making the most money he will ever earn in his hockey career arose.

We’re not talking about asking the boss for a raise. Well, in a way, we are except it is about a salary bump of a few millions. The captain of the Ducks has his agents, of course, but there was also his dad to turn to, as has been the case for his 27 years.

“I don’t know if I’d necessarily call it advice,” Steve Getzlaf said. “We did talk quite a bit about it. Talked about the different situations and what they were offering and what he was looking for and that sort of thing.

“I was involved probably quite a bit more with his first contract. But you know he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He knew what he wanted and he knew where he wanted to stay.”

Now with an eight-year, $66-million megadeal in the rearview mirror, the Getzlafs were able to spend the past few days focusing on more leisurely forms of quality time together. They weren’t the only ones.

The Ducks put together their annual fathers’ trip with 14 of them aboard this time. Some of them, such as dads of defenseman Luca Sbisa and goalie Jonas Hiller, came from great distances like their native Switzerland.

All of them met up in Dallas and then flew together to St. Louis for some bonding at bus rides to and from the arena, afternoon ballpark tours and evening dinners. Some are taking the trip back to Anaheim.

Carl Lovejoy beamed as his son, Ben, popped out of the Ducks’ dressing room at Scottrade Center before they took for a ride back to the team hotel.

“Obviously it’s a real treat and a real thrill,” the senior Lovejoy said. “But what I like most about it is we sort of do the same things we’re doing or we did do when he was a little guy. It’s riding to the rink and hanging out. All of those things.

“The level of play is a little bit different. But the experience is about the same. I enjoy that. And I also like that no matter where the dads are from, we also have that common experience.”

Steve Getzlaf has traveled to see his son on other occasions but eagerly looks forward to the fathers’ trip where stories can be swapped over a few libations.

The Ducks, he said, have always treated them well over the years and made it something to circle on the calendar whenever it is arranged..

“I was saying to the other fathers that I’ve been on every one so far,” Getzlaf said. “There’s no many of us original fathers left. But every year, it’s nice to meet new fathers and listen to their stories.

“They’re all very similar, right? Their kids have all gone through fairly much the same things, right? But it’s different personalities. It’s nice. It’s fun.”

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is a big believer in the trips that have become commonplace among many NHL teams. Some have even taken to putting together trips for the players’ mothers

It is a way of thanking parents for the sacrifices made to help their sons make their dreams come true..

“I think it’s tremendous,” Boudreau said. “My dad, w ho’s no longer with us, I know would have been the proudest father in the world if he’s able to go on a trip when I played with the Leafs.

“Those are the things that I conjure up so I assume that most of these fathers, they’re feeling the same way. Some of them are coming from a long ways away. They don’t get to see their sons play live a lot.

“As a father myself, I know when you get to see your kids play, it’s a tremendous feeling.”

But Boudreau knows where to draw a line when it comes to commiserating with hockey dads. He said he hasn’t come across a time when one has ever offered advice about his son or the team.

“Because I don’t’ hang around when they’re having their dads night,” he said. “When the dads get together and go out and have a good time, I’m not there to catch that. They have a little bit of courage and they might offer up some suggestions.

“I don’t want to hear them. I get enough.”

As much as he cherishes the time with his offspring, Steve Getzlaf knows his son has to play and win games for the Ducks.

“On these trips, they got to do their own thing, right?” he said. “When he says, I need to go to my room [then] away you go. That’s the way it is and I understand it. He’s got a job to do.

“You certainly don’t want to stand in the way of that. You just enjoy yourself and enjoy the time you can with your son.”

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